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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. I. NOTTINGHAM.

REOBPTAGLE FOR MATCHES, m.

No. 587,269. Patented July 27,1897.

E. I. NOTTINGHAM. REUEPTAGLE FOR MATCHES. &0.

No. 587,269. Patented July 27,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDYVIN I. NOTTINGHAM, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TOFREDERICK W. BUCKLER, OF SAME PLACE.

RECEPTACLE FOR MATCHES, 8w.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 587,269, dated July27, 1897.

Application filed February 25, 1897. Serial No. 625,050. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN I. NOTTINGHAM, of WVashington, in the Districtof Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReceptacles for Matches, (be.

- and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in receptacles for matches, &c.,the object of the invention being to provide a simple and convenientdevice for containing matches and from which matches can be readilywithdrawn one at a time.

A further object is to provide in a single structure a receptacle forlive matches and a receptacle for dead matches.

A further object is to so construct a matchreceptacle that the entirecontents'of a full box of matches can be placed in said receptacle inregular order at a single operation, said receptacle being also adaptedto receive dead matches and permit their ready removal. v

A further object is to construct a receptacle for matches in such mannerthat the matches can be removed singly therefrom and to provide'acompartment within the same structure for dead matches, the bottom ofthe deadmatch compartment being supported by the live matches andmovable downwardly as the supply of live matches diminishes.

A further object is to produce a receptacle for matches which shall besimple in construction, cheap to manufacture, which shall be neat andornamental in appearance, and

effectual in all respects in the performance of its functions.

A further object is to provide a simple, or-

/ portion being divided into two compartments My invention furtherconsists in a receptacle comprising a body portion constructed at itslower end to permit the withdrawal of matches one at a time and a trayfor the re: ception of dead matches, said tray being adapted to besupported by the live matches in the receptacle.

My invention further consists in a matchreceptacle comprising a bodyportion having an elevation of a receptacle embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of myimproved match and cigar receiver. Fig. 4 is a view of the bottom of thereceptacle. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are views illustrating modifications.Figs. 9 and 10 are views exemplifying the manner of filling thematch-receptacle.

A representsa tray, made preferably of cast metal and provided in itscenter with a tubular standard 1, on which a receptacle B is mounted andthroughwhich a shank 2, projecting from said receptacle, passes, wherebyto permit the latter to be revolved, and said shank is made at its lowerend with a transverse hole through which a pin 3 passes to prevent theaccidental displacement of the receptacle.

The receptacle B may be conveniently made of sheet metal and comprises abody portion having an open upper end 5 and a closed bottom 6, theopposite edges of which latter are made with open slots 7. The bodyportion of the-receptacle, comprising the ends 8 and bottom 6, issubstantially U-shaped in form, and the ends 8 are provided at each edgewith small flanges 9, adapted to receive ways formed at the edges ofremovable pieces or plates 11. The lower edge of each front piece ismade with an open slot 12, which registers with the slots 7 in thebottom 6 and cooperates therewith to permit a single match to be readily grasped by the user. The lower end of each front piece is slit nearits outer edges, as at 13, whereby to form spring-lips 14,which when amatch is being withdrawn by the user will permit the passage of the endsthereof from the receptacle, said spring-lips serving at the same timeto prevent any accidental This is an important feature of my invention,in that it permits a fullsupply of matches to be placed in thereceptacle very quickly and evenly and without danger of getting themmixed and in confused positions.

The receptacle B is provided with a tray 16, which normally rests uponthe matches and is intended for the reception of dead or burned matches,which ca 11 be readily inserted through the open upper end of thedevice. The receptacle B is thus divided into two compartments by meansof a movable partition, the lower compartment being for theaccommodation of live matches, which can be withdrawn singly, as aboveexplained, and the upper compartment being for the reception of burnedor dead matches.

It is apparent that during the use of the device when all the livematches have been used the receptacle will contain only dead or burnedmatches, which latter can be readily removed by withdrawing one of thefront pieces or by inverting the device.

The bottom of the receptacle may, without detracting from the efficiencyof the device, be made fiat, asshown in full lines in Fig. 2; but saidbottom can, if desired, be made convex, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.2, so as to make the approach of the matches toward the front pieces(when only a few are left in the receptacle) more certain.

\Vhile the receptacle can be conveniently made of sheet metal, as aboveexplained, still it may, if desired, be cast, (with the possibleexception of the front pieces,) and in such case the ends a a, Fig. 7,may be made with vertical grooves a at their edges for the reception ofthe removable front pieces I).

Y The upper ends of the removable front pieces 11 are preferably madewith curved lips or troughs 17, which serve as cigar-holders, as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 2, the ashes from the cigars being permitted tofall into the tray A, the latter thus constituting an ash-receiver.serve as thumb-pieces by which the front pieces can be readily removed.

A cheap and convenient form of my invention is shown in Fig. 6, in whichform the tray A is omitted, and the device is adapted clamp h.

The lips or trough also to be supported by a pin passed through a hole18 in an extension 1.) of the body portion of the receptacle. In thisform of the invention the body portion comprises a back, bottom, andsides made in a single piece and a single front pieceQO is employed, thefront piece being made the same as above explained in connection withthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and The tray 21 shown inFig. 6 is also the same as that shown in Figs? and 3. \Vith the form ofthe invention shown in Fig. 6 a whole box of two hundred matches can beplaced within the device at one operation by removing the front piece.When the receptacle shall have become filled with dead matches, it canbe readily emptied by removing the front piece! If desired, thereceptacle can be made in the form of a box having a slide similar tothe common form of boxes in which matches are packed, as shown in Fig.8, the features of my invention being at the same time carried intoeffect.

Sometimes it is desirable to so construct a match-receptacle as topermit its ready at tachment to a counter, a mantel, or article offurniture, and for such purpose the form shown in Fig. '5 may beadopted. In this form the sliding front cl, having the open slot 6 andspring-lips, cigar-holderj', and tray 9 will be used as in the otherforms of the invention, and the device will be supported on a counter orother place by means of a spring- In this form of the invention and alsoin the form shown in Fig. (5 the bottom 71 may be curved and made acontiguous part of the back of the device.

It is evident that my improved receptacle is well adapted for toothpieksas well as matches and that its use will result in greatly economizingeither.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to construct a match-boxhaving cooperating notches in its front and bottom and slits in thefront to form spring-lips at each side of the notch in the front of thebox, and I make no claim, broadly, to such a construction.

My improvements are simple in construc tion and ornamental in appearanceand of fectual in all respects in the performance of their functions.

Various slight changes other than those above described may be resortedto without departing from the spirit of my invention or limiting itsscope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise detailsherein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-.

1. A receptacle comprisiu g a body portion constructed at its lower endto permit the withdrawal of matches, said body portion being dividedinto two compartments by a movable partition adapted to be supported bylive matches in the lower compartment, the upper compartment beingadapted for the reception of deadmatches, substantially as set forth.

2. A receptacle comprising a body portion constructed at its lower endto permit the withdrawal of matches, one at a time, and a tray for thereception of dead matches, said tray being adapted to be supported bythe live matches in the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a receptacle, the combination with a body portion approximatelythe size and shape of a standard box of matches and adapted to containmatches in regular order and having a slotted bottom to support thematches, of a removable front to facilitate the placing of the contentsof a full box of matches into the receptacle at one operation, saidremovable front having a slotted lower end to cooperate with the slottedbottom of the body portion of the receptacle, the lower end of saidremovable front having slits therein whereby to form spring-lips at eachside of the slot in said front, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination with a base, of a receptacle revolubly supported oversaid base and constructed with two compartments, one above the other,for the reception of live and dead matches respectively, and means forpermitting live matches in the lower compartment to be withdrawn one ata time, substantially as set forth.

5. In a receptacle, the combination with a body portion approximatelythe size and shape of a standard box of matches and adapted to containmatches in regular order and having a slotted bottom to support thematches, of a removable front to facilitate the placing ,of the contentsof a full box of matches in the receptacle at one operation, a curvedlip on said removable front adapted to serve as a handle whereby toremove said front and also as a cigar-holder, said removable fronthaving a slotted lower end to cooperate with the slotted bottom of thebody portion of the receptacle, the lower end of said removable frontalso having slits therein whereby to form spring-lips at each side ofthe slot in said front, substantially as set forth.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a receptacle having an open slot inits bottom, a removable front having an open slot at its lower edge tocooperate with the slot in the bottom, a spring-jaw at each side of theslot in the front and a movable tray within the receptacle,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

.EDVVIN I. NOTTINGHAM. Witnesses:

R. S. FERGUSON, VERNON E. I-IODGES.

